A total of 7,963 children were killed in road accidents across Bangladesh between 2020 and September 2026, with motorcyclists and passengers accounting for the largest share of fatalities, according to a report by the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).

The report, released on Wednesday, was compiled using information from nine national dailies, 17 national and regional online news portals, electronic media and the organisation’s own data.

According to the findings, 2,958 children, or 37.14 per cent of the total, were killed while riding or driving motorcycles.

Another 2,812 children (35.31 per cent) died as pedestrians after being hit by vehicles while crossing or walking along roads.

A further 2,193 children (27.53 per cent) were killed while travelling as passengers in different vehicles.

Among child pedestrians killed in road accidents, three-wheelers accounted for the highest number of deaths.

A total of 1,271 children, or 45.19 per cent of pedestrian fatalities, were killed after being hit by CNG-run auto-rickshaws and other three-wheelers, including locally made vehicles such as Nasimons and Bhotbhotis.

Heavy vehicles, including buses, trucks, covered vans and pickups, were responsible for another 1,126 pedestrian deaths, accounting for 40.04 per cent. Private cars, microbuses, ambulances and jeeps accounted for 317 deaths.

The report found that rural roads were the deadliest for children, with 2,713 deaths, or 34.07 per cent of the total.

Regional roads accounted for 2,082 deaths (26.14 per cent), while 1,974 children (24.78 per cent) were killed on highways. Urban roads recorded 1,194 deaths, representing 15 per cent of the total.

The afternoon recorded the highest number of child fatalities, with 2,634 deaths (33.07 per cent). Another 2,168 children were killed in the morning and 1,813 around noon.

The remaining deaths occurred at night, in the evening and during the early morning.

Children aged 13 to 17 accounted for the largest share of fatalities, with 3,547 deaths, or 44.54 per cent.

A total of 2,884 children aged between six and 12 were killed, while 1,532 victims were aged five or younger.

The report also found that 2,513 children, or 31.55 per cent of the total, died while travelling to or from educational institutions. Another 962 children lost their lives while playing on roads near their homes.

The RSF identified several factors contributing to child road deaths, including a lack of child-friendly roads and transport systems, inadequate road safety awareness, insufficient guidance at home and in educational institutions, and the operation of vehicles by unskilled and underage drivers.

Limited access to appropriate medical treatment for injured children and families’ inability to afford treatment were also identified as contributing factors.

Children face particular risks on rural roads, which often run close to residential areas. The report noted that traffic rules are frequently ignored on these roads and law enforcement presence is limited.

To reduce child fatalities, the RSF recommended making roads and transport systems safer for children and strengthening road safety education at home and in schools.

It also called for strict action against unskilled and underage drivers, improved treatment facilities at district-level hospitals, a special government fund to cover medical expenses for road accident victims, and effective implementation of the Road Transport Act 2018.

The foundation stressed that road accidents continue to kill and permanently disable children, calling for greater attention from government authorities and the public to protect young lives.